To sum up

After over five hours of meetings, dozens of speakers, the task force got one, exactly one, person who supported their plan.

I would hope that gives them pause.

Okay, one last post

The current speaker is outraged that transfer students have been ignored, that current census data is being ignored, that school ratings are being ignored, that closing the Central Office wasn't even considered, and that the city master plan is not being considered. Please stop!

Good stuff.

The next speaker, with a quaver in her voice, told the task force that, watching what has happened tonight, they have inadvertently restored her faith in the community as she has seen all these schools coming together.

Winding down

Speakers are still going, but the energy in the room is winding down. I think a lot of people are tired after two nights of this.

Looks like we are about out of speakers. This may be the last post for tonight.

Comments continue

To the task force: "I know you've worked hard, I know you care, but I also know that you've done unbelievable damage to these schools you have targeted."

To take down all of these exemplary schools at one time is academic suicide. I have seen fathers in this room crying. Something is seriously wrong when fathers of elementary school children are crying.

Clara Bishop is speaking! Go Clara!

Now that's not playing fair

Several dozen Zilker students are now singing their school song.

A speaker is going over time again, but who is going to cut off an 8-year-old who is talking about his special needs friend?

More speakers...

Someone just thanked the 5 or 6 task force members who seem to be actually taking notes.

Blerg. Now she's criticizing $84 million for plant maintenance because AISD doesn't need that many plants. I don't think she quite understands what that means.

A couple of speakers who are upset over closing schools on the east side of Austin, forcing students to walk across train tracks, major roads, and APD "hot spots" to get to their new school if these closings happen.

Interesting

We have a speaker who is challenging Pease's numbers for efficiency and saying that larger schools have lower costs per student. She is saying unthreatened schools aren't willing to give up services for smaller, less efficient schools. She says someone has to be fiscally responsible.

It was the first booing I've heard tonight.

Totally random

One of the Zilker parents up in the balcony is wearing what looks like a bright red, blinking bike taillight on his forehead. He looks like a Cylon. It's very distracting.

Task Force reactions

A little armchair analysis. Some of the members seem genuinely interested and are taking copious notes. Others look very sour, arms crossed and grimacing. A couple look completely disconnected. One gentleman looks like he's playing Angry Birds on his iPhone.

More comments from speakers

Don't pit neighbor against neighbor.

The Task Force is asking for input, but they're only giving the community three days to respond to a long and complicated document. They (the task force) complain that last night people said, "don't close my school," but didn't offer any concrete suggestions. How can we come up with those suggestions when we only found out a day or two before what was happening?

Students are not fungible. They can't just be moved from school to school with no impact.

Technical difficulties

Speaker microphones keep going out. The translation headphones for Spanish speakers are malfunctioning. Not a sterling day for AISD's communication folks.

And a lot more people are going over time.

More speaker comments

One of the speakers observed that this process seems designed to turn the schools against each other, and that she is impressed with how we are standing together.

Increasing attendance by 1% will increase revenue by $6 million. Get your kids in school.

Find ways to get major events in town to benefit the school district -- rodeo, Formula 1, South by Southwest, etc. The Mayor should be working towards this.

Rep. Naishtat is speaking

Reading from a letter he wrote to the Superintendent. He's acknowledging the tough decisions, but expressing concern in how this will affect students when exemplary schools are being closed. Why did the task force choose to ignore factors of achievement and involvement?

He's going over his two minutes. Hah. Go ahead and try to stop a State Representative from talking.

Schools are more than buildings. Schools are communities. Losing schools in the urban core will make many of our plans as a city harder to realize.

Oh, snap

One of the speakers just brought up the estimated $29 million value of the AISD. Selling that would pretty much cover all the saving of all the closed schools. "Keep the money close to the kids," she said.

Elliot Naishtat is here!

He'll be speaking in a few minutes.

Some more comments

A former board member is speaking. He is saying that teaching and learning has not been taken account of in this report and recommendations.

You have made these decisions without going to these campuses and seeing these programs. That is like buying a house over the Internet without ever seeing it.

Random observations

From speakers:

Why are we talking about bond money to build new schools instead of repairing successful schools?

Why are we closing schools that families are migrating to?

Why do the tables in the report not reflect any costs associated with moving students to these schools? Why is the community and the Board not being shown those costs?

Time for public comments

Same rules as last night. Not a dialog, the task force will just listen. 2 minutes each. 8 at a time. Open until 8:30. Cards will be drawn at random.

New construction options

1 middle school, 1 high school, 3 elementary schools, reduce portables.

This is a ten-year plan.

Proposed Preliminary Options

They are listing the schools to "potentially" closed.

Zilker is taking up half the balcony. They are loud.

Back to the consultants

They say the task force wants to look at the "intangibles" as well as the hard numbers. Of course, I think a lot of their numbers are wrong, so I'm not sure they've done a good job in any case.

And here is the CFO

Things are bad. The worst since the Great Depression. Hardest challenges we've ever had to face. Significant decline in property values, thus stark revenue declines. Tax values won't improve for at least two or three years.

Talking about Robin Hood (recapture) and how it hurts AISD.

The State of Texas is suffering a similar shortfall and that will result in tremendous cuts to State programs. Perhaps 4 billion statewide for education.

State plus local cuts will bring us to our knees.

...and here come the consultants

No decisions have been made. These forums are to provide a chance for community members to give feedback. 94 options were considered. Tonight's input will be taken into account.

He's giving a quick rundown on AISD's overall status.

"Maintain teachers, maintain programs. That's critical"

Invest the right dollars in buildings to ensure efficiency. Oerwise infrastructure will begin to decline.

They looked at how boundaries are drawn and are even indirectly making recommendations on things like transfer policy. Doesn't seem so indirect to me.

Introductions

Introducing the Task Force members. There seems to be fewer chairs and more empty chairs up on the stage tonight. Richard Frazier, one of the Task Force members, is welcoming us. He's discussing the 9 months they have been working on this plan. He's defending their decision-making process. It sounds a little defensive. He's discussing how the Task Force goals have been affected by the economic situation. I think they're feeling some pain from last night's criticism.

Community Meeting at the Burger Center

And so we begin.

Round...oh, I lose track, let's talk themes

The speakers have a few common themes. Are any of these actual cost savings? Why are we shutting down neighborhood schools that kids can walk or bike to? Why are we (according to some speakers, I don't know the numbers) disproportionately affecting Hispanic populations? Why are we closing exemplary schools? Why are we fixing things that aren't broken? Why are we damaging the future of Downtown Austin? Do you know this is going to damage the kids who are being forced to change schools, teachers, friends, etc. and are we considering the long-term impact of that? How is this going to affect schools that students are being forced into?

Next round

This set:

Pease
Pierce
Zilker 2
Sanchez
Wooldridge (?) speaking about severe overcrowding

Public comments: next 8

Geez, it's cold in here. AISD is obviously saving money on heating.

All of this is going to be online so I'm not going to try to quote any of these, sometimes very emotional, speeches.

This round of speakers:

East side Memorial High School 2
Sanchez Elementary
All 4
Ortega

Keeping score: First 8

Speakers from:

Zilker 2
Pease 2
Brooke and Allen
Ortega
Sanchez


Wow. Some really good speakers! A lot of solidarity in not closing any of these schools, many of them exemplary. Why are we closing good schools?

Delco's speech

"We have overruled the benefit of success...I stand here speaking in strong opposition to closing Oak Springs Elementary School.... Our city cannot survive without an educated population."

Speakers begin

Wilhelmina Delco is speaking first. I suppose if the building is named after you...

Time for comments from the public

All comments will be videotaped and placed on the web. Not a dialogue. Two minutes per speaker. Questions will be captured and addressed in future meetings. Will try to do 60 speakers, 8 drawn at a time. Timer at the front to let us know when it is time to stop.

Phased plan

Closing, leasing, and etc. Will be phased in over 10 years, but no details on what that means.

Decorum

Too little? Not enough? Jocelyn and Pease folks were quiet while talking about our schools. Sanchez, Barton, and Zilker supporters got increasingly loud with boos and catcalls until the moderator had to ask everyone to simmer down.

Capital cost avoidance

That seems to be the main goal, to save money by closing some schools.

Now dissing (sorry, DISCUSSING) Pease

All they did was go over the fact that it is all-transfer and the high cost of maintenance.

How were options developed?

There was a mountain of data considered. Facility Condition Index. Educational Adequacy Index. What are the current population projections? What are the leases on property like?

There were a set of questions that were used to assess the 94 options. Does it account for growth? Many others...

Going over recommendations from Facility Master plan. Starting with Jocelyn.

Laying the groundwork part 2

Changes in how administrative space has been considered.

Local revenues are down and who knows when they will go back up. Federal stimulus money ends this year, another shortfall to make up.

But its not all about the budget....

Educationally efficient and budget efficiency were both goals. Why do we have portables at underutilized schools? Higher FCI (above 55%) is inefficient. Two schools are above that. (Yes, that would be Pease.)

This list of was carved down from 94 options.

Laying the groundwork

The consultant is making the point that there has been no recommendation made. Options have been set out, but now they are seeking public comment. They will consider all the voices at these meetings and all of the suggestions made.

AISD exceeds national averages and wants to continue to. Budget shortfalls require AISD to look at cuts to things like facilities. There has to be efficiencies of resources. In a district with severe overcrowding in some areas and severe undercrowding (sic) in other areas then decisions need to be made.

Budgets have to be balanced. Facilities age. Everyone wants the best possible facilities for their students.

Parameters and rules had to be set for how the task force would work.

Transfer policies need to be looked at.

Whoops

They just introduced the representative from the consulting firm. Would I call his applause tepid? No, more like nonexistent.

Introduction

Speaker is making the point that these are only options at this time. This is why they are seeking feedback from the community.

Longer meeting

They just announced that the meeting will be extended to 8:30 to give more speakers time to talk.

AISD Facility Master Plan Meeting - Delco Center

6:05. We should be starting any time now...

And that's it

A great presentation by Mr. Turner!

Yet more Q & A

What are the next steps in the process? Need to determine how the current calculations will be used to move forward with final recommendations

Another question about transfer policy. How do other districts do it? The last district Dr. Carstarphen was in didn't have any transfer restrictions.

What is the projected population of schools based on? Hispanic population is increasing dramatically. They calculate based on live births in the area and project forward. Then the demographer looks at kids in each grade level to determine projections. They also project based on housing developments in the community to calculate growth in attendance area.

More Q & A

Comment that schools became open to transfers because schools were in older neighborhoods and under-enrolled. Many people are not aware of that.

Comment that there are often people transferring out of schools for perceived rather than actual problems (Blanton?). Maybe if there was a cost associated with transfers it would reduce overall numbers and bring in revenue.

Where are the Administration buildings in all of this? How is at calculated? What happens if we sell Pease to put that land back on the tax rolls? Not something that's been laid out in this diagram. But it may be part of later phases as construction projects begin. There are other things percolating around that may bring something to bear, but these are all real estate discussions in executive sessions of the Board.

Q & A

Was green building assessed in FCI calculations? Somewhat. There are some factors such as reflective roofs, low-flow fixtures that have been added in.

Why does the middle school enrollment seem to be less than elementary and high school? Grade configuration is a factor and is not standardized across the district. This is being considered as part of the Master Plan. Discussion of consolidating several smaller schools into larger facilities. The feedback they received was "we love our smaller schools."

Have the consultants looked at how numbers would change under a strict transfer policy? They are looking at what we'd see if the kids were all taken back to the home boundary. Some would be way over and some way under.

Wouldn't improving school quality reduce transfers instead of building all new facilities? Yes, and that will be incorporated into the next phase of the planning process.

Planning Area 3

Not going to put much here. He's essentially running us through the packets that are online, including the options suggested and questionnaire.

Transfers

19% of AISD students attend classes outside their boundary for a variety of reasons. The District is going to have to take a hard look at the transfer policies, even though the net transfer numbers keep all students in district, it still can cause imbalances across the district.

Saving money

Reduce temporary buildings, reduce under capacity schools, and sell or lease AISD facilities to generate funds.